Thousands of people are taking legal action against pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson, claiming it knowingly sold asbestos-contaminated talcum powder in the UK.
As many as 3,000 people have alleged that either they or a family member developed forms of ovarian cancer or mesothelioma from using Johnson’s Baby Powder, and are seeking damages at the high court in London.
Lawyers for the group said in court documents filed on Thursday that Johnson & Johnson, along with current and former subsidiaries Johnson & Johnson Management and Kenvue UK, should all be held liable.
They said J&J “concealed” the risk to the public for decades, having replaced talc with corn starch in its baby powder in the UK since 2023.
A spokesperson for Kenvue, which was formerly J&J’s consumer health division and now has responsibility for talc-related claims outside the US and Canada, said the talc used in baby powder complied with regulations, did not contain asbestos, and does not cause cancer.
Source: The Guardian 16 October 2025
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